Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-06-03
CATS ON THE BRIDGE.
A Reporters Story OF Feline Migra-
tions.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, May 25.
It Is estimated-but estimates are not al
ways trustworthy something like 10 per
cent. of the population Of New York and
Brooklyn moves on or about the LIST of May.
There are certain aspects of this annual he
gira that have never attracted attention. 1t
has for long time been known to observers
of the domestic cat that for q short time after
the first of every month there is a marked
increase in the number of predatory cats in
the metropolitan precincts. 1t is well under
stood by the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals that this is due to the
homing instinct of the cat.
Reporters are good and virtuous, not to
say truthful, but they cannot all of them
strictly observe the old time rule about going
to bed. The properly constituted reporter,
however, at least until the grinding years
have totally eliminated all athletic propens-
ties, likes to steady his nerves after his night
work by walk in the fresh air before turn
ing in, To that end the present writer fire.
quently tramps across the bridge some time
between II o'clock midnight and 3 in the
morning. During these hours the foot way
of the bridge is well nigh deserted, save for
the policemen on duty, and under the electric
lights every moving thing is distinctly WIS.,
ible.
1t was On a night early in May that the in
cidentS occurred which are about to be re-
counted.
The station masters clock on the New
York side marked 1875 a. M. and the moon.
three-quarters full was still high in the west
What with this and electric lights the road
ways and platforms were brightly iIlumi-
mated. AS the reporter stepped out from
under the passenger house he was aware of
one or two silent forms fitting past him
under the shadow of the side walls. These
forms were cats. But cats are everywhere.
and the newspaper man thought nothing of
! it. When, however, he reached the open
footwalk he was surprised to see more dark
objects scattered at irregular intervals along
the gentle incline that led to the first
flight Of steps. These objects seemed
Tor the most part to prefer the side
OF the footway as close to the railway
as possible, but they made cratic excursions
to and fro in the moonlight as the passing
cable trains frightened them from one
side to the other. The reporter is a strictly
temperate man, but he admits that he was a
trifie disturbed when, after rubbing his ewes
and winking few times, his vision still rem
resented the bridge as peopled with silent.
earnest cats, powerful CATS cats that would
not turn back for any trivial midnight way
farer like himself, but ever pressed on toward
the New York side of the river
turning 10 watch an unusually large Tom
which, with tail erect and eyes of green fire,
had just passed, the reporter was somewhat
appalled, at finding he was followed by quite
"a little rack-if that be the proper term for
such an aggregation-of cats, with their faces
turned toward Brooklyn He had nanifestlv
acted as sort of leader to the eastward
bound procession. Stepping CONSIDERABLY to
one SIDE, the pilgrim stood motionless. The
| blS tom looked neither to the right nor left.
| lhough one or two light minded tab
Dies made audlb!y admiring remarks,
but proceeded with dignity on his way.
Alter a moments pause the "pack" Hurried
| past with patter of velvety feet, and The
| long, Struggling procession went on and WAS
| soon lost between the perspective of electric
| lights.
AT the pier was the policeman on duty,
leaning against the railing. He was an old
acquaintance. The reporter entered into con-
versation, and after a few generalities re-
marked in casual way that it seemed to be
l good night for cats
"Yes," was the reply, "pve been here ever
since The bridge was opened, and never saw
50 many. The moon makes a big difference.
When she 'fuls' about the I'd or Sd Of May it
sends 'em home in shoals"
SLOWS that!"
"Well, you see they don't seem to get their
bearings of a dark night, or maybe they don't
show up so plain"
docs this happen every moonlight nightr'
bless you, no-only just after the Nav
| moving. 1ou see most every family that
| moves across the river has a cat and takes it
along, and if the moon fuIls within a day or
two afterwards she gets her bearings and
lights out for the old home. Cats is mighty
queer, and if they can get their bearings
away they go.'
And you think all these cats are bound
for the places they came fromr
"Of course. Why last year moved from
Sixty-third street in New York to a place in
Brooklyn, and my old woman she must have
II. cat go too. told her it was no good
| taking her, but you know how a woman is
Wen, three nights after | was on duty, and
who should come along hut our old tab and he,
young kittenl We'd left her one ont of he,
litter. l spoke to her, but 'twan't no good
She just lit out like she'd never seen NE be-
fore, and next day l went up to Sixty-third
street, and there she was, sure enough, kitten
and all, settled down with the family that had
moved into our old quarters"
"lts no use trying to stop 'em. One wear
the superintendent give orders to head 'em off
at the entrances, but they just everlastingly
blocked the streets and roasted around in
corners and alleys for day or two. Some,
how or another they slipped across, and, ]
make no doubt, most of 'em turned up in
good time where they belonged. Oh, l tel
you, cats is queer critters
81 had to laugh over toward the BROOKLYN
entrance an hour or two ago"-and the DO
liceman shook inwardly at the remembrance
"There was an old Tom undertook to get
free ride on the cable. He straye'
through the railing somehow, and there
was a boy hove something at hin
and scairt him so he jumped up, all four legs
in the air, and came down ON the outgoing
cable. OF course be gripped the first thing
he struck, and away he went, eight miles al
hour. He went over five or six pulleps be
fore it seemed to strike him that anything
was wrong, and then he let go and go
bounced Off He didn't seem to be bur
much, ard after resting a while he pulled
himself together and decided to go the res
of the way on foot. Good night l expec
this thing will keep up till tlaylighto